earthquake
(ˈɜːθkweɪk)
[f. earth n.1 + quake n.]
1. A shaking of the ground; usually spec. a convulsion of the earth's surface produced by volcanic or similar forces within the crust.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 20499 (Trin.) An erþequake [v.r. erth⁓din] coom þat shoke alle þinge. 1382 Pol. Poems (1859) I. 252 The pestilens, and the eorthe-qwake, Theose..thinges Beoth tokenes. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 305 As thro an erthe qwake. 1513 Douglas æneis viii. iv. 131 By fors of thunder or erdquayk wyth a clap. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 73 Thee doors, thee laurel, thee mount with terribil earth quake Doo totter shiuering. 1635 N. Carpenter Geog. Del. ii. ix. 156 After an Earth-quake many new springs..discouered themselues. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. 91, I plainly saw it was a terrible Earthquake, for the Ground I stood on shook three times at about eight Minutes distance. 1821 Shelley Hellas 5 All its banded anarchs fled, Like vultures frighted..Before an earthquake's tread. 1864 Q. Jrnl. Science I. 57 An Earthquake..is the transit of a wave or waves of elastic compression in any direction..through the substance and surface of the Earth, from any centre of impulse. |
b. fig.| 1641 Milton Animadv. (1851) 188 Whosoever..so earnestly labours to keep such an incumbring surcharge of earthly things, cannot but have an earth-quake still in his bones. 1662 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 310 In this age, wherein there is an earthquake of ancient hospitals. 1835 L. Hunt Capt. Sword ii. lviii. See where comes the horse-tempest again, Visible earthquake. 1868 Bright in Star 14 Mar., This social and political earthquake under which Ireland is heaving. |
| attrib. 1814 Byron Ode to Napoleon 30 The earthquake voice of Victory. |
2. Comb. a. attrib., as
earthquake-fiend,
earthquake-gown,
earthquake-pendulum-microphone,
earthquake-shock,
earthquake-voice,
earthquake-wave.
| 1821 Shelley Prometh. Unb. i. 38 The *Earthquake-fiends are charged To wrench the rivets from my quivering wounds. |
| 1750 H. Walpole Let. Sir H. Mann 2 Apr., Several women have made *earthquake gowns, that is, warm gowns to sit out of doors all to-night [an earthquake having been predicted]. |
| 1882 Nature XXVI. 220 For the study of..seismological movements of the earth's crust as revealed by the microphone..Dr. A. V. G. Mocenigo..has devised an *earthquake-pendulum-microphone. |
| 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 188 *Earthquake-shocks are happily of rare occurrence in this country. |
| Ibid. An *earthquake-wave is a vibration of the solid crust of the earth. |
b. instrumental, as
earthquake-rifted,
earthquake-ruined,
earthquake-shaken,
earthquake-swallowed adjs.| 1819 Shelley Prometh. Unb. i, New fire From *earthquake-rifted mountains of bright snow Shook its portentous hair. |
| Ibid. ii. iv, The lurid smoke Of *earthquake-ruined cities. |
| 1860 Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. ix. iv. 240 Silent villages, *earthquake-shaken, gleam in white ruin. |
| 1839 Bailey Festus ix. (1848) 102 *Earthquake-swallowed cities. |